Any tips for a newbie?

[robbiodobbio]

I've found Razorback and Crossbow of Umbar but both aggravate monsters, should I save them for the Sauron/Morgoth battle?

[robbiodobbio]

Hey Pete, in your comment on the ladder you said "you've got Keleck so you don't need to carry *destruction*" is that a spellbook? Don't think I've got it.

[Pete Mack]

For Umbar, maybe. +2 CON in the bow slot can be helpful, tho the damage isn't as good as a good ego bow. For Razorback, I have no idea

[Ingwe Ingweron]

Originally Posted by robbiodobbio

Hey Pete, in your comment on the ladder you said "you've got Keleck so you don't need to carry *destruction*" is that a spellbook? Don't think I've got it.

In addition to a scroll it is a spell available to mages and priests. Kelek's has the mage spell.

[Pete Mack]

Originally Posted by Ingwe Ingweron

In addition to a scroll it is a spell available to mages and priests. Kelek's has the mage spell.

Kelek has the spell for mages and *Rangers*. Just one more way rangers are unbalanced.

[Ingwe Ingweron]

Originally Posted by Pete Mack

Kelek has the spell for mages and *Rangers*. Just one more way rangers are unbalanced.

Oh, yes, you are right. I forgot about that, since my rangers never bother to carry Kelek's and instead use the scroll.

[Werbaer]

Originally Posted by Pete Mack

Kelek has the spell for mages and *Rangers*. Just one more way rangers are unbalanced.

Why should a ranger use Kelek's?

Bedlam is always useless.

Destruction at 5% fail (or more) is useless as a one-turn escape.

For fighting, rangers need long distance line of sight. They want open areas (or long straight corridors against summoners) so they can shoot from range.

[Pete Mack]

Undead pits.

[Derakon]

Originally Posted by Pete Mack

Undead pits.

And demon pits, and safely getting rid of any monster or group of monsters you don't want to fight, without having to get anywhere close to them. Phase away from Morgoth's summons, teleport Morgoth himself away, then Destruct the summons. That's standard operating procedure for basically all of my fights, but usually I have to carefully ration my use of Destruction because I only have it in scroll (and maybe staff) form. Being able to cast it freely is huge.

[Pete Mack]

Originally Posted by Derakon

And demon pits, and safely getting rid of any monster or group of monsters you don't want to fight, without having to get anywhere close to them. Phase away from Morgoth's summons, teleport Morgoth himself away, then Destruct the summons. That's standard operating procedure for basically all of my fights, but usually I have to carefully ration my use of Destruction because I only have it in scroll (and maybe staff) form. Being able to cast it freely is huge.

@derakon-Undead pits was just the most obvious answer. Between *Destruction* AND branded ammo AND 3 shots AND 5 distinct buffing spells AND Rune of protection, high level rangers are just ridiculous. Sure rogue has the ammo, the buffing, and godlike stealth, but that doesn't come close to the same degree of dominating the environment